Four contenders registered as election runners will compete for the position of Bashkan (Governor) of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia. These are Irina Vlah, Sergey Cimpoieș, Ivan Burduji and Dmitry Manol. The last day for the examination of files submitted by applicants to the Electoral Commission of Gagauzia was June 6, IPN reports.

Contacted by IPN for details, the Commission’s chairman Ivan Comur said the file of the last aspirant Vasili Aladov was rejected for the reason that substitution lists contained a number of irregularities. The condition to have 1,500 valid signatures wasn’t respected. There were identified signatures that repeat, counterfeit signatures and inaccuracies concerning the identity and place of residence of persons who signed.

Earlier, there were issued substitution lists to applicants Elena Novac and Mihail Vlah. Elena Novac decided to withdraw and returned the lists to the Commission. Mihail Vlah also announced his intention to withdraw, but hasn’t yet returned the lists, event if this is mandatory.

Ivan Comur said that under the electoral legislation, the election campaign for candidates starts when these are registered as contestants and ends one day before the elections.

The Governor elections in Gagauzia were to take place on May 19, but the local executive body, the People’s Assembly, transferred them to June 30.